Reno City Council has approved a plan that will help protect historic homes south of the University of Nevada, Reno as the school expands its campus. Our contributor Bob Conrad with ThisisReno.com has the story.
The Council has voted to keep its eye on UNR's plans for Center Street after lengthy debate. Councilwoman Naomi Duerr says that there are different configurations possible for the area that can include the homes and new UNR buildings.
"Historic resources is sort of a representation of our history and our culture, and I really think that we need to honor that."
The revised plan for the area was changed to consider the area's historic resources, and council wants to see quarterly reports on how UNR is cooperating with historic preservationists, like Alicia Barber.'
"They really want much more transparency and a much more thorough public process about the university’s plans as they develop the gateway area, and I think the City Council was very encouraging of that.”
UNR President Marc Johnson says the desire to expand campus southward has been in the works for years.
“We worked with the City of Reno and several other partners, including the RTC, for two years to come up with this plan. We have abandoned the old plan where the university was going to grow east because there was a desire of everybody in the community that they wanted the university to grow south to connect with downtown.”
ThisisReno has been covering this issue extensively, and you can find their coverage here.
